Exemplifying the Egg
This is a follow-up to the post Of Eggs and Embryos which you may want to read first.
Let’s say there is a world much like our world. This world has golden sunsets, this world has blue-green seas and luminous nights. This world has animals abundant with might and people pursuing prosperity. Due to technological advancement, food is abundant and the common cold has been cured. Poverty has been beaten back and charity is common. Welcome to Gaia. Gaia is paradise attained almost. In Gaia, as in our world, not all afflictions have been defeated; some infirmity and distress still remain. But, as Monty Python said, “cheer up old chap” things look promising. The potential promise of a fulfilled, and fulfilling, utopia, might be found in a culture dish no larger than 10cm in diameter. The elixir found in this reddish – orange liquid medium are known as stem cells and not just ordinary adult stem cells but embryonic stem cells (ESC’s). That certain type of stem cell that hasn’t yet “pipelined” down their developmental pathway. As in our world, ESC’s do come with a contentious price; they require the destruction of an embryo. The value of that embryo is currently in discussion on Gaia. Comprising the populace of our anguished paradise are two predominant ethno-cultural communities, the “progressives” and the “recalcitrants”. The progressives see nothing wrong with the destruction of the embryo because according to reason the resulting promise of fulfilled paradise outweigh any “moral” considerations the recalcitrants bring. The recalcitrants disagree over the cost of fulfillment and argue that the life (or potential life) of the embryo outweighs any “utility” considerations the progressive brings. The progressives are derisive in their condemnation of the moralists, and the recalcitrants are dismissive in their contempt of the utilitarianists. Now, if you have been following along so far, and you are familiar with our nation’s current debate on embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) you may be asking, “How is this any different from our world, apart from Gaia’s common cold being cured? One fact changes the assumed analogous positions of the participants in the debate: The requisite embryos destined for destruction are Ailuropoda Melanoleuca; commonly known as the Chinese Giant Panda.
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